Eye on O.C.: A roaring good time had by all

May 6, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 12:28 p.m.

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Muckenthaler Cultural Center Director of Education Adam England poses with a fake "Tommy Gun" he made for the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Mikal Sandoval performs during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton on April 4. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Larry and Margaret Caballero of La Palma try their hand at gambling during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Dan Weinstein performs on the trombone during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. The Prohibition-themed event benefits their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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The hood ornament of a 1931 Ford was on display at the "Speakeasy" at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Willie Tabata of Fullerton shuffles cards during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Suzy Williams sings during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, a Prohibition era-themed event that benefited their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Alice Tokunaga poses during the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton that benefited their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Elisa and her mother Adrienne Werderman take tickets and "Tommy Guns" at the "Speakeasy" event held at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton to benefit their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Board member Austin Muckenthaler, center, and Allison Town, director of marketing mingle during the "Speakeasy event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. The Prohibition-themed event benefited their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Larry and Margaret Hoonsbeen of Fullerton drive their 1931 Ford to the "Speakeasy" at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, a Prohibition 1920s-themed event that benefited their upcoming Ragtime Music Festival. The guests were entertained by live jazz performances and dancing. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

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Tiffany Julef, left, of Santa Monica with her grandmother Diana Polson of Anaheim Hills pose beside a 1931 Ford. They attended the "Speakeasy" at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton. KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

Muckenthaler Cultural Center Director of Education Adam England poses with a fake "Tommy Gun" he made for the "Speakeasy" event at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton.KAREN TAPIA, FOR THE REGISTER

Did you know?

RagFest – Southern California's only annual festival of ragtime music – has grown from just a few hours at a single venue to an entire weekend of ragtime fun. This year's lineup includes Ian and Regina Whitcomb, the Heliotrope Ragtime Orchestra, Brad Kay and Those Syncopating Songbirds, ragtime vocalist Erika C. Miller, pianist Andrew Barrett and others at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton on Oct. 20. Free admission.

"Orange juice," they whispered. Guests gave the secret password at the door for entrance into a swinging 1920s party where women in headbands, feathers and vintage dresses and men in suspenders and Homburg hats were written "prescriptions for alcohol."

The Muckenthaler Cultural Center hosted a speakeasy complete with a "raid" by Fullerton police – real cops assisted by an actor – who shined flashlights in guests' faces while questioning them about what was in their cups. It was all part of a benefit to raise funds for the annual RagFest celebration held there in October.

Jamie Hiber of Orange served "coffee" while people danced to the period music of Brad Kay on the crowded wooden dance floor at the mansion, built in 1924. "I love the fashion, the rebelliousness of it," Hiber said. "It was such an interesting decade historically, it's great to go back and celebrate such a carefree time." Her husband, Eric, was dealing cards in the casino room and echoed the sentiment. "You feel like you're a piece of Americana."

Ragtime has recently gained popularity, much to the enjoyment of Eric Marchese of Santa Ana, a longtime freelance theater critic for the Register who founded RagFest 13 years ago. "The OC Ragtime Society came from RagFest – not the other way around – due to popular demand," he said. "It's nice to see Gen X and Gen Y taking real interest in the music, history and cultural influence."

The event, which netted $2,004, was only the second of its kind for the Muckenthaler, and it was the first time a fee was charged. "Last time it was a full house, and this time we charged and it's still just as packed," said Zoot Velasco of Fullerton, executive director of the Muckenthaler, in character as a 1920s gangster, complete with raspy voice and Gatsby-esque get-up. "There are seven colleges around here and few of them have any focus on folk music. So we've taken it on as our mission to promote that. The music from this era often gets overlooked for swing, but it's really interesting."

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